Norway has suspended a campaign promoting the country as an ideal tourist destination for those seeking outdoor activities, responding to concerns from local authorities and campaign groups about the environmental impact of a massive influx of tourists by opening up so-called right-to-roam laws.
He German slats, The right of public access to nature, which allows citizens to camp, swim, ski and walk freely on private land, regardless of its ownership, forms the basis of cold air livet (outdoor life), considered fundamental to the culture of this mountainous country.
But a campaign promoting these benefits to international tourists has drawn widespread criticism. Authorities overseeing the influx of foreign visitors to different regions have warned that it could lead to increased traffic and unregulated camping, putting too much pressure on the natural environment.
Innovation Norway, owned by the Norwegian state, explains that it wanted to use this campaign to “highlight Norwegian culture, which promotes access to nature.”
However, tourism officials in northern and western Norway said they were already feeling the effects of overtourism and some called for the initiative to be suspended while its possible impact was assessed, prompting Innovation Norway to halt the campaign.
Increases interest
This summer, interest in the Nordic countries as a destination has increased, with tourists seeking cooler locations amid the high temperatures of southern European countries. Although tourist boards are keen to capitalize on this increased interest, many Norwegians are urging caution.
“We certainly want visitors to enjoy our nature, but we prefer that this is done through sustainable and well-organized offers, provided by competent and experienced companies in the tourism sector,” says Stein Ove Rolland, CEO of Fjord Norway Tourist Board. “In this way, we ensure that locals and tourists alike can enjoy our incredible nature for decades to come.”
Rolland stresses that his group believes that “promoting outdoor activities to a growing international holiday and leisure market carries risks, as it could encourage more tourists to want to explore vulnerable natural areas on their own.” “This can lead to wear and tear on nature, increased waste and, potentially, increased accidents and rescue operations,” he says.
As interest in tourism has grown in Norway, so has the number of poorly parked camper vans, as has litter and “general wear and tear on nature”. Rescue operations for tourists lost in the mountains have also increased.
Dag Terje Klarp Solvang, secretary general of the Norwegian Hiking Association, which has welcomed a high number of international visitors this year, says hiking can be a “very sustainable” form of tourism, but the country must be prepared to handle the increase in tourists before inviting them back. “The massive arrival of tourists, if we are not prepared for it, can cause serious damage to nature and the communities that live in the most remarkable areas,” he says. The Guardian.
“We need a clear plan”
In a statement explaining the campaign suspension, Aase Marthe Horrigmo of Innovation Norway said that the groups concerned had expressed concerns during the preparatory work about increasing tourism in vulnerable nature areas and visitor management in popular destinations. The statement noted that the decision to suspend the campaign was aimed at “continuing dialogue with sceptical county municipalities and tourism businesses” to ensure that they understood their concerns. It also said that the debate had lost the opportunity to record in the spring.
“It is important to encourage tourists to behave responsibly in Norwegian nature. At the same time, we would like to launch a campaign that would encourage more people to visit us and have incredible experiences that they will remember for the rest of their lives,” he says. “We will continue the dialogue with the tourism sector and believe that this is a concept that will encourage potential tourists to adopt the philosophy behind cold air flow and will ultimately encourage them to treat our unique nature with the care and respect it deserves.
Bente Lier, secretary general of the outdoor recreation organisation Norsk Friluftsliv, says that while international tourists are welcome in Norway, it is important to have a clear strategy for protecting the environment before inviting visitors. “We need a clear plan for directing tourists to where we have the capacity, how to receive them and explain to them how they should take care of nature. You can’t invite 30 guests if the table is set for four,” he says.
“It is important to know that German slats “The right to access nature comes with the obligation to respect it,” he says. “In short: no trace of our passage must remain. This is something we learn in Norway as children, from our family or at school, but it is not so obvious to many international tourists.
Translation by Emma Reverter.
